After years of gridlock, bad blood and legal bills, the costly battle over Sam Bruce Road is over.

A settlement between county commissioners and Marion Cartwright was filed Nov. 2 in the office of the clerk of Superior Court of Madison County.

Cartwright will be paid $60,000 in exchange for dropping his suit. Meanwhile, Cartwright will no longer block county efforts to repair a washed out bridge and re-open the closed portion of Sam Bruce Road.

According to Madison County finance director Kathy Clark, the county has spent $238,361 on legal fees and engineering costs related to the suit. The $60,000 settlement ups the total cost to the county at $298,361.

Cartwright said he spent upwards of $150,000 on the lawsuit.

The suit, which was filed July 27, 2007, was technically about an environmental issue. Cartwright, who owns over 400 acres on Sam Bruce Road, alleged that the county improperly installed culverts on the road over a waterway, which is a tributary of Hannah Creek. He said the county illegally dumped pipes, asphalt and other debris into the creek at the washed out bridge.

But the matter went beyond the environmental impact on a stream. Cartwright and several others on Sam Bruce Road wanted the road to remain closed, while some Harrison residents said the bridge should be fixed and the closed portion of the road reopened.

Cartwright said District 2 Commissioner John Pethel and the BOC initially supported closing the road, then flip-flopped on the matter. He said he was deeply angered.

Pethel denied the claim, saying he only agreed to get the hearing process started on the road closure, which would open the matter to public debate.

Cartwright directly challenged Pethel for the District 2 BOC seat in 2008, but Pethel won the election. Cartwright then campaigned heavily against Pethel in the 2010 Republican primary. But Pethel won again.

BOC chairman Anthony Dove said the $60,000 settlement is equal to the cost of taking the suit to a trial, coupled with the cost of cleaning up the stream.

“It’s one of those situations where I’m glad it’s over,” said Dove. “It’s one of those situations where no one wins.”

Dove noted the deep divisions that came from the Sam Bruce Road conflict, saying he hopes the Harrison community can heal now.

“The worst thing about this was that community relations were harmed,” said Dove. “Maybe this (the settlement) will help heal those divisions.”

Cartwright said the county recently signed off on new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps, which put the Sam Bruce bridge area in a flood plain.

“Since they adopted that FEMA map, they have to go in and do it (the bridge repair) right,” said Cartwright, who said previous attempts to repair the bridge were subpar. “They will have to do it to the specifications of the Army Corps of Engineers and it will cost a ton of money to fix it.”

Cartwright said he didn’t appreciate being “lied to” and he believes Pethel and the BOC should have listened to the will of the people of Sam Bruce Road.

“I don’t know of any other situation where all the people of a road want it closed and they don’t get it,” he said.

Pethel said he’s pleased to have the issue resolved.

“I regret that we had to spend the money we had to, but we couldn’t allow one person to tell the entire county we had to close the road,” said Pethel.

The commissioner said Cartwright is now out of the road matter.

“He’s totally out of that now; it’s up to the BOC and the DOT,” he said.

Pethel said he hopes to see action on the road soon.

“My understanding is that we can get moving pretty soon to get the road like it’s supposed to be for the people of the county,” said Pethel.

Well, we can all see Cartwright's true motive now, and we can see this never was about any "environmental issue" or "illegal dumping."

What we learned from all of this is what a selfish jerk Marion Cartwright is. I'll gladly pay my share of the $298,000 this jerk cost us just to send him and his arrogant attitude home and REPAIR THE BRIDGE and OPEN THE ROAD. I'm going out of my way when it's open just to ride by and give a toot of the horn for the benefit of Cartwright! Twice a day. Trust me...I'm going to get my money's worth. Yep, when you hear that horn Hoss, that's me. For each taxpayer, that equals a couple of dollars. Glad to see Hoss got hosed to the tune of $150,000 only to lose. Road and bridge will be opened, just like it should be. Only difference is that fool found a way to flush $150,000 to get...well...a bridge he and road repair he could have had FOR FREE!

Cartwright only exposed himself as selfish, greedy and petty. And embarrassed himself. Big time. I guess you could say he sent $150,000 UP THE CREEK.

J.J- Hoss said long ago it wasn't about the money no more AND the way I see it the victory has nothing to do with dollar signs BUT seeing as how the county now has to pay Cartwright $60,000. and the county got nothing and still has to fix the bridge anyway I would say Cartwright won.

Cartwright specific stated purpose was to defeat the repair of the bridge, and to close the road. For good. Forever.

By taking a settlement, it effectively means his attorney eventually advised him he HAD NO CASE. Otherwise, why would you settle a case you know you would win? And for a huge loss?

By taking the settlement, the terms of which are THE EXACT OPPOSITE of Cartwright's goal to close the road, that GUARANTEES the bridge and road will be OPENED. Trust me, Marion Cartwright lost and lost BIG TIME.

When you reach a settlement and you get what you want, that is a win. When you reach a settlement and you got NONE of what you wanted, and you lost a TON of money to boot, you lost your hiney.

Why his attorney didn't advise Cartwright that he had absolutely NO legal standing and NO case whatsoever is the mystery to me here. Because from day one Cartwright had no case and no chance. I guess Cartwright's attorney just saw what turned out to be an easy $150,000 and took it from Cartwright who was too distracted by his petty grievance to use common sense and realize he had no case. His attorney took him for a fool, and Cartwright's real grievance and complaint should be with his attorney who advised him he had a case when he had none, and who spent $150,000 of his client's money on said case, only to then advise his client to settle for a net loss to his client of $90,000 AND not achieve ANY of his stated goals.

I expect we will be hearing very little of Cartwright in the future. He has really, in a very public way, embarrassed himself royally. Stay home, Marion. Stay home and feed the cows.

But Mr. or Ms. Legal Z- Cartwright may have lost $90,000. BUT HOW MUCH did the county lose $238,361. AND the road will be fixed and you can guarantee Cartwright will make sure it's done right? If the county tries to do it like they done it last time we WILL be hearing from Cartwright again. The county is going to try and cut corners and get out as cheap as they can? SO we haven't heard the last of this you can count on that.

Anonymous- It was personal because of what Pethel told Cartwright at first then Pethel went back on his word that made it personal. It couldn't have been about the money because Cartwright spent $150,000 Got $60,000 from the county He took a loss of $90,000 so if he was looking to make money that's NOT the way?

Settlement specifically ensures that the bridge and road will be opened.

If it's not about the money, you don't settle FOR MONEY when you not only don't get what you wanted, you get the exact opposite. It's called a PAY OFF. And Cartwright TOOK THE MONEY to cut and run and limit his LOSS. In the end money is EXACTLY what it was about.

Marion Cartwright - hosed and exposed,
Bridge and Road will be opened, not closed.

BUT Anonymous- The bridge will be fixed the right way this time. No more dumping a pipe and a few loads of gravel that will wash out in a few months or years. It's when your Saint Pethel tried to Monkey rig it that Cartwright wanted the road closed and that started this whole mess. See if Saint Pethel had fixed it right the first time the county wouldn't have had to spend all this the tax payers money?

You're so wrong it's laughable. You embarrass youself. The bridge will be repaired as engineers call for. No more; no less. Exactly the plan that was in place before Cartwright's appearance as Madison County's Drama Queen delayed the project. The only difference is, thanks to the settlement our county WISELY directed, Marion Cartwright is specifically excluded from having ANY opposition or input on the project.

Someone suggested Cartwright stay home and feed the cows. On the contrary, I would love to see Mr. Cartwright violate the terms of the settlement. Please, Mr. Cartwright, please violate the settlement and come out and see what happens when you violate a court sanctioned settlement. Be my guest. But know this: you won't be stealing any bridges or roads from this county's citizens. Our chairman, our commissioners, and our citizens will defend what is ours no matter the cost. They will not be intimidated by antics, lawsuits, or thuggery.

Mr. Cartwright's petty actions that did not alter the final plan ONE IOTA cost Madison County taxpayers almost $300,000 and cost himself, if Cartwright is to be believed and on a good day his word is suspect at best, $90,000. I personally witnessed an encounter a citizen had with Mr. Cartwright in public. Based on that encounter, Marion Cartwright is not too popular in Madison County. His antics were funny at first, but now that everyone knows he cost each and every one of us a ton of money, it's not funny. No one is laughing. And Cartwright earned and paid for every bit of his alienation in the community and the community's dislike of him.

The joke is over for Cartwright. In the end, he is the joke. And what's sad is the joke isn't even funny.

Anonymous You must be embarrassed because you won't put a name on your post. Or can't think of a clever one? You say the bridge WILL be fixed as engineers call for? Well did these engineers call for a pipe with trash dumped around it last time? Or was that Saint Pethel and the other BOC Angels decision because it was a cheaper fix? Any decent engineer should know a metal pipe won't last forever if they don't know that Madison county needs to get rid of them in the next budget cut because they are costing Madison County money.
And a court order in Madison County means nothing. I know of several people who violated court orders and NOTHING HAPPEN.
You said something else I find funny. You said he won't be stealing any bridges or roads from the citizens of this county because all these different people will protect it NO MATTER WHAT IT COST? GUESS WHAT if you are a tax payer YOU are paying whatever it cost and when your taxes go up YOU BITCH AND WHINE that they are too high.

And you are the only one who thinks that way. Even Cartwright saw this as a loss. He admitted he lost 90 grand. At any rate, it's done and over. Time to move on. Looking forward to seeing the road repaired and opened, though. Gonna be driving through there several times a week.

I'm glad this is over, that old Scrooge Cartwright is out of the way, and our road is still ours and the bridge is going to be fixed. Nice to see the good guys win one for a change. Yay! And just in time for the Holidays, too! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone! Yay!

Well, thanks to the Grinch Cartwright, Santa can't use Sam Bruce Rd. this year. But Santa will have the option of using Sam Bruce Rd. and bridge soon! Yay! Hooray and three cheers for all of the GOOD people in Madison County, and, well, as for the Grinch, we'll be praying for you, too!

Karen- I'm sorry BUT I feel the need to let you in on a little secret? SANTA DON'T DRIVE A UPS TRUCK. He flies real high and I think he should be given a drug test? And Karen you keep calling Cartwright a Grinch, Scrooge, and all the other pet names you have for him? What pet names you have for Pethel and the BOC? Since you say they are fighting for US(the people of MC) BUT you don't seem to understand IT is OUR TAX MONEY fighting this fight SO THE BOC DON'T CARE HOW MUCH THEY SPEND of OUR MONEY it ain't costing them a dime. And BECAUSE it cost so much to fight this and they want to raise TAXES to make the money back are you going to be crying and whining about that then? Saying oh your taxes are to high BUT REMEMBER THEY SPENT YOUR MONEY FIGHTING FOR YOU and a road the county could do without. So when it happens just think they fought for me SO IT'S MY FAULT EVERYONE'S TAXES WENT UP.

You don't understand. I like the road being open. So, maybe a lot of the county doesn't need it, BUT I SURE DO like having it. Those are MY tax dollars, too, and I'm glad they are being spent on something I WANT for a change! Yay! So, my special Christmas wish was for this whole lawsuit business to go away and for the Grinch to go back home so we could get our road and bridge back. Well, we don't have the bridge up yet, but we're on our way and at least that ole Grinch is gone. So, looks like I and many others had our CHRISTMAS WISH GRANTED! YAY! Three cheers for a HAPPY CHRISTMAS! So glad to know we will have our road open. YAY! Poor sad old frustrated Grinch...well, happy holidays to you, too, Grinch! Maybe one day you'll learn LOVE is stronger than hate. But YAY! for the rest of us and YAYAY FOR SAM BRUCE ROAD gonna be OPEN AGAIN! Happy Holidays everybody!

Karen- Have you been smoking that wacky weed? You say those are your tax dollars at work for something YOU want? Why so you don't have to drive as far to get your fix? If they only raised your taxes because they fought for you I WOULDN'T CARE BUT everyone in Madison Co. may have to pay higher taxes because of YOU KAREN. Are you going to pay the amount OUR taxes go up for EVERYONE in Madison Co. Since they were fighting for YOU? I THINK NOT. You will be crying and whining like all these other SAINT PETHEL SUPPORTING FANS.

MC1988- If Cartwright were to run again he would have MY vote too and probably a lot of others that Pethel snow balled in to believing he was on their side? The only time Pethel cares about anyone other than himself is around Election time? He will promise anything to win the election? He has done showed what kind of man he is. He blew almost $300,000. of EVERY TAX PAYERS MONEY for WHAT? A ROAD NOBODY CARES ABOUT and nobody thought about how much money it would save because the Sheriff's Dept. wouldn't have to patrol it, and the road Dept. wouldn't have to maintain it.
The only people who would want Sam Bruce Rd. open is the drug dealers that use the Rd.for their drug deals, the spouses cheating on their partners, the people who like to ride back roads and drink,and Hunt, and the people who use the road as a FREE trash dump.
I just give you 5 GOOD reasons to close the road BUT I GUESS Pethel can't think logical and with common sense.

To who ever Anonymous is that wrote above : U R so wrong : showed your email to others and well thanks for making us chuckle. Taxpayors got ripped off for the few just like we did with the big banks and all. U sound like a left wing socialist democrat in a county very very red in voters.

Mr.Lou Fendelstein- Because I know how mean and stupid SOME OF YOU ARE and if I were to post my full name some of you idiots might want to come and burn my house down or attack me then someone would get hurt really really bad and I don't think a newspaper post is worth going to jail? Besides it keeps yall wondering who I is? I could be related to you, I could be the person who sits next to you at the cafe eating breakfast, I could be ANYBODY.

How can you say he won? He spent upwards of $150,000 according to him, of which I doubt this figure is true with the high dollar atorney's he used. Probably just trying to save face by using this number. Spends $150,000 get's $60,000 and nothing else. No road closing as he wanted. It is sad that we as taxpayers foot the bill. He gained nothing other than spliting a community for his own self centered gains. One other issue school buses do use this road.

Anon you are part right? He spent over $150,000 and didn't get but $60,000 BUT how much did Madison County spend? AND they he said a long time ago it wasn't about the money it was the saying one thing then going behind closed doors and doing something else. I'm sure the Commissioners don't care what it cost? It wasn't their money.

The commissioners cared very much what this insanity was costing; that's exactly why they stopped the madness with a settlement rather than continue to incur litigation costs that could go on even longer than it already had. Also, there is a need to put the ridiculous issue to rest for the sake of the community and the time and attention taken from the commissioners' many tasks.

I could not have said it any better!! You are 100% correct this was not an environmental issue this was greed and want of power by Marion. Your description of him and the situation is right on target. Now Mr. Chairman when will the road be repaired?

"Anonymous on 11/17/10 at 12:43 PM" bet your the petition guy who stood up and voiced minority opinion and now we the majority will pay. John Pethel and you have cost the county money and some of us realize this. The table is slowly changing for people who do this type of bullying. It is not 1970s or 1980s or even 1990s anymore.

You had better understand we are sick of our money being spent for pet projects of certain citizens of the county and their little yes men!I for one am ready to light a torch and wield a pitchfork and storm the courthouse if this nonsense doesn't stop!Hoping and praying Anthony Dove has more common sense.

Mr. Dove does have common sense. That is why he and the commission chose to 'stop the nonsense' with a payoff that stopped further expenditures to deal with such insanity. It's alot of money and I hate that these kind of deals are made all the time, but it is the lesser of two evils. Just like voting for candidates these days.

Anon on 11/18/10 : if this occurred before election I know of person that would have voted for Hoss and not JP. Community I think making some of JP friends and him realize the jig is up. YOU the taxpayor if not for some pushing this road would not be having to pay for this. I see how it really benefits not many unless you are into land selling and all and on JP guy does dabble in real estate but could be wrong.

The great irony is it's only thanks to Marion Cartwright that Pethel has been able to coast to victory in every election since this started. The people Pethel may not exactly be the best and brightest, but he's head and shoulders above Cartwright. And so the people chose Pethel. Again and again.

Hoss was like an outmatched boxer. Pethel hit him with a jab...down went Cartwright, but he got back up. Pethel hit him with a hook...down went Cartwright but he staggered back up. Now ole John hit him with the combo, uppercut to the chin, and the solid socko $90,000 nose punch and...8...9..10...Knockout! Hoss is ($90,000) down and out.

I got a lot more respect for Pethel now. Thanks for fighting the good fight for the road, the bridge and Madison County. Good man...good job.

Gordon Sole- You say you have more respect for Pethel because "YOU" say he fought for the road, the bridge, and for MADISON COUNTY. Wake up he drug this out this long because it WASN'T his money. I'm upset because JOHN PETHEL blew my tax dollars and everyone else who lives in Madison County who pays taxes on this kind of crap. Instead of using all that money to just fix the bridge right he blew all the tax payers money fighting this and you what? They are going to have to fix the bridge anyway PLUS pay Cartwright $60,000. So I would say Cartwright WON. And you can bet when they do fix the bridge Cartwright will be out there making sure they do the job right. YOU GO CARTWRIGHT MAKE SURE THEY DO THE JOB RIGHT.

Resident Redneck, you are an idiot. I have listened to you run your mouth for over six monthes now. Why are you so bitter? The taxes on your singlewide too high? Why dont you put your real name on the blog and stop being such a coward! I will be more than happy to meet you over breakfast and discuss politics with you. Or even better, why dont you run for office next time.

Dear John Jr ( bet you got lot of Dear John's when young ) meeting you is like meeting with someone my daddy would say no matter what you said is still just not right. Your postings suggest as my wife and daughter note "a bully" and bullies do they business when others can not really see what they do. My view is who everr came up with Saint Pethel is priceless. The bridge thingie will has it seems made mister JP sorty lay low in public.

Another MC redneck-THANK YOU I came up with the Saint Pethel and his band of BOC Angels because some of these people put Pethel up so high I think they thing he is GOD and he has got them convinced of that. SO yall keep worshiping Pethel like he is GOD and I'll worship the real God.

John Jr- You want to know why I'm so bitter? Well sit down and hold on to your under roos. Cartright wanted the bridge fixed BUT your SAINT PETHEL tried to dump a pipe and trash where the bridge was and call it fixed but it washed out again and he(SAINT PETHEL) told Cartwright he would talk to the BOC about closing the road and SAINT PETHEL went back on his word so Cartwright started the legal battle. BUT with the MONEY the county has spent already they could have built a pretty nice bridge. Lets just look at the figures:
The county has spent $238,361 on legal fees and now they have to pay Cartwright $60,000 that's almost $300,000 and I think they could have built a bridge for under $300,000 and some of these people have never even built a bird house much less a bridge and I've been around the construction and building trade all my life and think you could do it for less.

Anonymous- Well I see things from a normal persons point of view and I don't care what party you vote for or where you go to church or nothing like that. I just call it like I see it. I feel you can give a skunk a bath and put a pretty pink bow in it's hair BUT it is still a stinking skunk. People think they can use what old people call $100. words and get by? And that's what Pethel did to get elected BUT if I can't understand what your saying I ain't voting for you? Pethel has got people so snow balled if he told them he was GOD they would believe him.

Nope JP sorty running "union shop" and think in community he is getting flak more than most know. Bet those around him could be concerned about "things" that may have gotten out of hand. No one I know including those that voted for him think he is that revered.

Yes MC citizen- I agree with the part of your post that I could understand? This did get way out of hand? Pethel didn't want to give in and neither did Cartwright. This could have been settled long ago BUT neither party wanted to admit they lost? I have been saying all along that with all the money the county has spent on this they could have built a pretty nice bridge for that amount?

Taxpayers won. Cartwright didn't get to steal the road, the bridge, and the land like he wanted. Can't allow bullies to take our roads. If he had gotten away with it, other roads would have been claimed by other bullies. We have to fight for and defend our roads, no matter the cost. Factor that in, and this was a bargain, but the bully had to be put down no matter the cost. Thanks Wesley Dove, and all five of our commissioners for doing the right thing, putting down the bully and saving our road, our bridge. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

peachy pammie- It sounds like you have been sipping some of that peach wine? You are calling Cartwright a bully? What about Pethel and the rest of the commissioners they sit in their little room and decide what's best for the people of Madison County and the truth is they probably don't know most of the people in MC?
You may think Cartwright is a bully BUT John Pethel is a SNAKE IN THE GRASS.

Yes appleannie- It wasn't John Pethel's money OR the Commissioners money it was OUR(the tax payers) money they were spending fighting this. Personally I would like to see my money put to better use? This may have started out as about the bridge but ended up being personal between Pethel and Cartwright? If you two guys can't get along then meet on a dirt road and fight it out? No courts, No lawsuits, No Police, No newspapers, and No citizens just you two?

Lets see : post your name. Get harrassed by the vocal few that sometimes even shove and push or threaten. Our tax office turn over good example of people gone in 2 or so years. Politics hummmmmmmmmm. Mext thing your type want is lets post how we vote for BOC so that can be harrassed more.

I agree with resident redneck. I do not always. Give your name and get a lawyer notice or letter ( remember in paper letter about JP mouth piece ) and some of us do not have money to fight that. Redneck some of us are their wives who post here. Theis road stuff has shown them for what they are.

Another MC person- I agree BUT can't figure out WHY they want our name SO bad? Me myself I don't care but if I tell you my name my wife has a public job and my kids go to public schools and you may want to take it out on one of them for what I said? It don't have nothing to do with them and if one of you were to start something with them it would get very personal and ugly real Quick. AND some of you say you post your real names? BUT how do we know it's your name and not your neighbors or someone else you may know or heard their name somewhere?

Giving names foolish as bully billies never open for people to see who they are. Ex wives on this site and good info given. Wish DA would run add for ex wives to give info on say Bruce Rd or how people get away without getting permits etc for stuff whereas others do not. Gossip gossip but where lots of gossip sometimes truth.

So many posters here still fail to "get it". You don't disagree with or attack (if you must) the PERSON who has posted an opinion. You disagree with or attack (if you must)the IDEA stated. Please rise above personalities (your own included)and simply respond to IDEAS! Perhaps that is too mature and sophisticated an approach for many Madison County residents to comprehend. If so,it refects on the 'backwardness' of the people here so often voiced in Athens and elsewhere.

E.J.- You right about one thing for sure it is MY OPINION not yours and I DON'T CARE if you agree with me or not. I wrote my OPINION of John Pethel I'm not saying you have to agree with me? You may even love the man? That's you.

Try this: don't use the word "you" and don't address another poster by name in your posts and you might get my point.

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